minnesota river valley natural and cultural systems plan mn river valley natural...minnesota river...
TRANSCRIPT
Minnesota River Valley
Natural and Cultural Systems Plan
City CouncilAugust 6, 2018
/10 Credits
• Sustainability Commission & Volunteers
Rob BoutaPaul ErdmannCaleb AshlingTim GreenleafDave RickertSteve Thomforde
Kara VanKleekBrian HenningSamantha MallingerJim ParkerLaura Perreault
1
/10
To identify city-owned areas in the River Valley that are of highest priority for resource enhancement, and to recommend management strategies and priorities
2 Purpose
/10
• Maintain and Enhance Existing Accomplishments
• Foster the Growth of Desirable, Native Species
• Strengthen Potential for Biodiversity
• Establish Continuous Ground-Level Vegetation
• Reintroduce Natural Disturbances
• Provide Education & Awareness Opportunities
Management Goals3
/104 Priority Areas
/10 Habitat Assessment (Appendix A)5
/10 Management Strategies (Appendix B)1. Remove Undesired Plants & Material
• Thin Trees• Mow• Herbicide Spray
2. Continued Maintenance
• Mow• Herbicide Spray• Prescribed Burn• Haying• Grazing
3. Site Enhancement
• Seed native grasses & forbs• Nursery plot planting
4. Continued Monitoring
6
/107 Stakeholder & Public Outreach• Meeting with agencies
• Need for continued communication
• Tiered education – cross promote programs & events
• Stakeholder meeting• Interest in Master Trails & Signage
Systems Plans• Need to fill gaps in cultural history
section
• Open House• Interest in implementation
• Recommended approval by Sustainability, PARC, and Planning Commissions
/108 Plan Updates
• Unique City Asset• Utility in all City Parks &
Open Spaces• Relation to other plans• Relation of River Valley
Priority Sites to other City parks (ie, Ike’s Creek)
• River Valley & Bloomington History
• Water Quality Monitoring
/109 Implementation
• Perform Management Strategies at Priority Management Sites
• Continued Communication with Partners & Stakeholders
• Education Efforts• Update Bluff District Overlay
Zones• Review of City’s Prohibited
Trees
/1010 Strategic Plan Next StepsSystem Plans
• Master trail plan
• Master signage plan
• Comprehensive maintenance plan
Process & Management Related Activities
• Update Memorandum of Understanding with USFWS
• Institute intentional communication strategies
• Pursue Regional Park Reserve designation
• Strengthen partnerships
Discussion & Questions
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval via the following motion:
In Case PL2018-215, I move to adopt a resolution approving the Minnesota River Valley Natural and Cultural Systems Plan attached via hyperlink in the staff report.
Extra Slides
Sections• Purpose• Historical Perspective• Current Conditions• Resource
Management• Education• Implementation
Overview of Plan
Priority Areas - Criteria
1. Improvement and/or Expansion of Existing Efforts
2. Quality of Vegetative Community3. Visibility and Public Perception4. Technical Viability of Initial Management5. Technical Viability of Long-term Management6. Presence of Biological Resources of Special
Significance
Funding Sources
• Capital Improvement Plan
Funds allocated to natural resource restoration city-wide
• 2019 - $65,000
• 2021 - $70,000
• 2024 - $75,000
• 2025 - $65,000
• 2026 - $65,000
• 2027 - $65,000
• State Resources• Environment and Natural Resources
Trust Fund
• Legacy Funds
• Regional Resources
• Federal Resources
Oak Savanna
• 25 – 50% Canopy Cover
• 12 mature trees/acre
• Continuous Ground Cover
Implementation1. Strategic Partnerships
2. Review outdated City regulations & guidelines
• Bluff Report District Plan (1982)
• Bluff Protection Overlay Districts
• Prohibited Trees
3. Funding
Whirlyball
Whirlyball
• Climate Change
• Flooding
• Excessive Dead, Fallen Wood
• Overgrown plant populations, bare soils, and erosion
• Undesirable Species
• Dumping
• Human Disturbance
Resource Threats
Seth Eastman painting (1847) of River Valley
Historic Perspective
Parker’s Picnic Grounds
1957
Aerial Photos
Parker’s Picnic Grounds
1975
Aerial Photos
Parker’s Picnic Grounds
2015
Aerial Photos
Sections• Purpose• Historical Perspective• Current Conditions• Resource
Management• Education• Implementation
Overview of Plan
Current Conditions – Cultural Resources
Considerations - Management Areas